Systems and Methods for Switching Modes of Providing Content on a Charging Station Display

Abstract

A charging station for an electric vehicle determines that a first person is in proximity to the charging station and identifies whether the first person is a user of the charging station. In accordance with a determination that the first person is a user of the charging station, the charging station provides, using a first mode for selecting content for users of the charging station, first content for display. The charging station determines that a second person is in proximity to the charging station and identifies whether the second person is a user of the charging station. In accordance with the determination that the second person is not a user of the charging station, the charging station provides, using a second mode for selecting content distinct from the first mode for selecting content, second content for display. The second mode provides content for non-users of the charging station.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 at a mobile device associated with a user, the mobile device having a processor coupled to memory, a display, and a wireless communications interface:
 executing a mobile application associated with an electric vehicle charging station; 
 determining, using the mobile application, that the user has initiated a charging process between an electric vehicle and the electric vehicle charging station; 
 receiving an identification of a plurality of businesses that are near the electric vehicle charging station; 
 receiving an identification of one or more promotional offers associated with each of the plurality of businesses; and 
 displaying at least one promotional offer selected from the plurality of promotional offers based at least in part on an estimated length of time remaining until the charging process is complete on the display of the mobile device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , including:
 displaying to the user, on the display of the mobile device, the estimated length of time remaining until the charging process is complete.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein displaying the estimated length of time remaining until the charging process is complete is based on a time limit. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying at least one promotional offer selected from the plurality of promotional offers based at least in part on the estimated length of time remaining until the charging process is complete on the display of the mobile device includes:
 comparing the estimated length of time remaining until the charging process is complete to a threshold;   when the estimated length of time remaining is less than the threshold, displaying a promotional offer that is associated with a first business in a plurality of businesses; and   when the estimated length of time remaining is greater than the threshold, displaying a promotional offer that is associated with a second business in the plurality of businesses,   wherein the first business is located closer to the electric vehicle charging station than the second business.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying a first message at the mobile device indicating that the electric vehicle is unplugged from the electric vehicle charging station. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying a second message at the mobile device when the charging process is complete. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying to the user, in real time on the display of the mobile device, a map including first markers for the locations of available charging stations and second markers for the locations of unavailable charging stations, wherein the first markers and the second markers are updated in real time on the map according to when charging stations become available and unavailable. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first markers are different to the second markers. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further including:
 for at least one of the second markers that shows locations of unavailable charging stations, displaying a timing indicator that describes an estimated amount of time left until the respective at least one unavailable charger becomes available to charge another vehicle.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying to the user, in real time on the mobile device, an indicator of whether the electric vehicle is currently plugged in to a charger. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the user, via the mobile device, navigation instructions to a location of an available charger. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the user, via the mobile device, an indication of a limit on an available charger to charge the electric vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying advertising that is targeted at the user of the electric vehicle on a display of the electric vehicle charging station. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, upon determining that the user is not interacting with a display on the charging station, displaying advertising on the display on the charging station that is not targeted at the user. 
     
     
         15 . A mobile device having a processor coupled to memory, a display, and a wireless communications interface, wherein the memory stores instructions for:
 executing a mobile application associated with an electric vehicle charging station;   determining, using the mobile application, that a user has initiated a charging process between an electric vehicle and the electric vehicle charging station;   receiving an identification of a plurality of businesses that are near the electric vehicle charging station;   receiving an identification of one or more promotional offers associated with each of the plurality of businesses; and   displaying at least one promotional offer selected from the plurality of promotional offers based at least in part on an estimated length of time remaining until the charging process is complete on the display of the mobile device.